Preparing for the unexpected Published Sept. 29, 2017 By Senior Airman Malissa Armstrong 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Airmen from the 366th Medical Group and Civil Engineer Squadron practiced their response capabilities here, Sept. 25, 2017. The scenario focused on first responders abilities to extract and tend to pilots who simulated decompression sickness. “This is actually the first decompression sickness exercise since my tenure at Mountain Home Air Force Base,” said Tech. Sgt. John Patrick Thorpe, 366th Medical Group aerospace physiology craftsman. “What makes this exercise important is it brings the fire department and the flight medicine team to respond to any physiological emergency at altitude.” Thorpe explained the illness is a rare occurrence, which makes training as imperative as any other to ensure first responders are capable to handle this type of emergency. “Training is a very important part of being an airman,” said Col. Joseph Kunkel, 366th Fighter Wing commander. “The Air Force never puts airmen into a situation they’re not prepared for. (Gunfighters) are well trained and we’ll continue to be well trained.” The end result of any training scenario is to ensure airmen can perform their duties no matter the situation. “I think the training is very important. Not just for the people being trained, but also for other personnel to understand that they are in the proper care of the individuals taking care of them,” said Staff Sgt. Alecia Hudson, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, aerospace medical technician. “The training I saw was exemplary.”